Cultural Spaces

From community theatres and galleries to studios, churches and outdoor festival sites, the north shore is home to a range of arts and cultural facilities. A vibrant and eclectic mix of indoor and outdoor spaces are used for a variety of arts and cultural programs and activities that contribute to the community's character and livability and encourage the growth of creative sector industries.

Anne MacDonald Studio

The Anne MacDonald Studio is a multi purpose performance space located beside the Presentation House Arts Centre. The building has a cathedral ceiling, stained glass window and a wooden floor. It is 20 feet wide, 45 feet long, has mirrors on the end wall, dance bars on the two side-walls, up to 60 plastic stacking chairs, a kitchen counter, sink, and two washrooms. The studio is available to rent for auditions, workshops, rehearsals, dance classes and community events.

BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts - Capilano University

The BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts officially opened in October 1997 as the Capilano Performing Arts Theatre. The 372-seat theatre was built to support CapU's performing arts programs and to nurture and showcase the university's emerging artists.

The Theatre has evolved to encompass a broad range of artistic programming including the founding and production of several distinct series including: the Cap Jazz Series; Cap Global Roots Series; Cap Classical/Choral Series; Cap Theatre Series; Cap Film Series; and, the North Shore Jazz Festival.

Officially opening its doors in 1966, Centennial Theatre was built to commemorate the centennial celebrations of Canada. Since that time, Centennial Theatre has been a popular performance venue for community and professional organizations such as local schools, dance groups and arts organizations, as well as a stage for national and international touring shows. Centennial Theatre is a municipally managed theatre owned by the City of North Vancouver and operated by the North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission under a Joint Use By-Law with operating funds from both the City and the District of North Vancouver.

The largest multi-purpose theatre on Vancouver's North Shore, Centennial Theatre is an ideal setting for performances, film screenings, meetings, special events and community programs. The facility offers professional sound and lighting capabilities that can be tailored to all types of productions. Fully accessible, the main auditorium has seating for 658 with excellent sight lines throughout. The spacious theatre lobby includes a licensed concession operated by theatre staff. And, a rehearsal studio is well equipped to meet the needs of performing arts groups and event planners. Box office services are available upon request and a large parking lot provides ample free parking.

CityScape Community Art Space is an exhibition art space owned by the City of North Vancouver and programmed and managed by the North Vancouver Community Arts Council. Created in 2001, CityScape celebrates and promotes local art and artists through quality experiences in a unique and inviting gallery space. Rotating exhibitions are group based, themed and have an interactive component to engage the broader community. Ideas for exhibitions come from the community and beyond and are adjudicated by a submissions committee.

The Deep Cove Cultural Centre is centrally located on the corner of Gallant Avenue and Panorama Drive in Deep Cove in the District of North Vancouver. The Centre houses the Deep Cove Shaw Theatre and First Impressions Theatre Company in the 130-seat air-conditioned studio theatre. The Centre also houses the Seymour Art Gallery and the Deep Cove Heritage Society.

The Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art opened its doors in 2012 to provide art enrichment opportunities for children and to ignite community engagement through exceptional art curation and education. Gordon Smith is a celebrated Canadian artist whose work can be seen in collections such as the National Gallery of Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC., and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England. The Smith Gallery is home to the acclaimed Artists for Kids teaching collection. For over 20 years, the Artists for Kids program has been acquiring masterworks from Canada’s leading artists, including founding patrons , Gordon Smith, Jack Shadbolt and Bill Reid, as well as Robert Davidson, Angela Grossmann, E.J. Hughes, Kenojuak Ashevak, Rodney Graham and Toni Onley.

The Smith Foundation in the Gallery promotes a greater understanding of contemporary Canadian art through the Gallery by offering: seasonal exhibitions; docent-led gallery tours and behind-the-scenes tours; artist and curator talks and symposia with leading professionals in the field; and, publications about Canadian art.

Located next to West Vancouver Secondary School, the Kay Meek Centre contains a 500 seat Main Theatre and a smaller "black box" Studio Theatre. The facility is easily accessed from Mathers Avenue, or from the large parking lot located off Inglewood. The Main Theatre seating is in continental formation, with aisles on the far right and far left sides, extra deep rows, and accommodation for six wheelchairs. The sound and light controls are contained in one booth, at the back of the auditorium. The stage is sprung for dancers and the apron folds down to reveal an orchestra pit.

The Studio Theatre, the style of which is often referred to as a “black box”, is designed for the most flexibility of usage. The primary bank of bleacher-style seating can be retracted to open the room and provide full floor surface. The standard set-up is 152 seats; additional seating increases the capacity to 216 seats.

The North Vancouver Community Arts Council (NVCAC) is a grassroots cultural organization dedicated to maximizing the intrinsic value of the arts in all media. The mandate is to enable emerging and professional artists in all disciplines, bridge cultures and build strong communities through the arts. Located at CityScape Community Art Space, NVCAC programmes and manages an interactive art gallery and Art Rental program, provides educational art opportunities, coordinates community cultural events, provides guidance and marketing opportunities for artists and empowers youth to access creative opportunities.

Presentation House Arts Centre, encompasses the Presentation House Theatre, Presentation House Gallery and the North Vancouver Museum. A designated heritage building, Presentation House is a space for creative expression and a catalyst for cultural development in the community. Over the years, the theatre space has provided residents and emerging talent the unique opportunity to celebrate live performances, presentations, artist exhibitions, and musical performances.

Anne MacDonald Studio is the oldest building in North Vancouver. It has a cathedral ceiling, stained glass windows and a wooden floor. It is 20 feet wide, 45 feet long, has 2 washrooms, mirrors on the end wall, dance bars on the two side-walls, 48 plastic stacking chairs, a kitchen counter and sink. It is used for auditions, workshops, rehearsals, dance classes and community events.

The Hendry Hall was built in 1942 as an Air Raid Precautionary Shelter. At the end of World War II, the Hall was remodelled to be more suitable for community use. From 1945, Hendry Hall was utilized by the Boy Scouts, the Rod & Gun Club, and other community groups. It was not until 1972 that the North Vancouver Community Players (NVCP) adopted the Hall as their permanent home and became the sole tenant, renaming it the Theatre at Hendry Hall. NVCP offers a full season of theatrical productions each year.

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